FARMERS will no longer be penalised under cross compliance for valid utilities work on their land after three years lobbying by the NFU resulted in a victory with the Rural Payments Agency.
Under the new rules farmers will now be allowed to seek an exemption to the management rule without the need for using statutory powers.
The announcement is a sensible change to the system and will greatly benefit farmers and growers, according to NFU president Meurig Raymond. He said: "This welcome news has simplified what had become a very complicated process that interfered with our members' farming and the utility companies from carrying out the necessary work to keep the lights on in the country.
"A simplification, although still requiring an exemption to be sought by the farmer, is a move in the right direction."
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